I think that this decision is a good one but I do have a question of just what constitutes a charitable solicitation and at what point HOM's approval would be required.
Let me take a real-life (and very recent) example and get some feedback on it:
On August 14, I announced that I had taken down the American flag which flew in front of my house during the recent fighting here.
The next day,
CHEROKEE LADY posted the following:
DOV, It was a very moving to read that you had been able to remove the flag. If it doesn't have too much sentimental value to you it would probably bring alot at auction for your kibbutz or a favorite charity.
I said that I could not bring myself to sell the American flag to get money for myself, my kibbutz, or my own country but I do think it should serve a worthwhile purpose. I then added:
Therefore, if any FlyerTalker is willing to take it upon him or herself to handle the details of the sale (via e-bay or even a local auction in his community) I will send the flag, by EMS, to the purchaser on one condition:
The money must be used to help the people of Lebanon. As I am not all that familiar with the organizations working there, and am wary of it winding up in the wrong hands, I will accept GadgetFreak's endorsement of Mercy Corps, with the stipulation that the money be earmarked for its Lebanese relief fund.
Cholula came up with what I agree is a much better idea:
The flag has far more sentimental value to FT'ers and those who are fans of THE thread than it would on eBay.
I suggest you come up with a value for the flag...say $1,000 (it could be more or less...just throwing out a number here)...and take up a collection on FT. The money could be sent to the HOM's where it would be tracked and once the goal was met, they could mail the money to a charity of BEYFlyer's choice. We'd have to discuss the logistics of how to publicize this event and also get the HOM's to sign off on it.
The flag would then be sent to Randy Petersen at the HOM's and he could display it there and/or bring it to the Freddie's or any DO's where he desires.
I'd like to see the flag as a gift to Randy in partial thanks for sponsoring FT and making this unique thread and experience possible for us FlyerTalker's.
And I'll kick off the process with a pledge of $100.
With only one minor change, I accepted
Cholula's idea.
Monitor immediately offered the second $100 and I agreed to put in the third $100. (Yeah, I know I was paying for my own flag. I never claimed to be much of a businessman.)
The question here is at what point would this have become a TOS violation under the new rules?
CHEROKEE LADY was not asking for money, just suggesting a way to put the flag to good use. Would this be permissable?
My response, again, asked for no money and would have taken the whole thing off of FlyerTalk and put it on e-bay. Is this now allowable?
Cholula suggested keeping the fund-raising on FlyerTalk and offered the first donation.
Monitor offered the second donation. At this point, were they yet in violation of the new rule?
I accepted
Cholula's idea and made the third donation. Would I have been in violation of the TOS at this point?
This brought us to the time that I wrote to Randy and asked him to review what had been suggested and give his approval/input. I advised everyone not to proceed with this until we heard back from Randy. Was this enough to avoid having a TOS violation under the new rules or would the previous posts already have put us over the line?